Reported Childhood Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Adversity and suicidality during youth

ABSTRACT This analysis examined relationships between childhood adversities and the odds of suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17. Respondents (N = 2072) completed the survey through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. The sample was represented disproportionately by young adult women who identified as Caucasian. The sample was differentiated into subsets with versus without suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17. Suicide attempt(s) in this sample (22.4%) varied in number (once, n = 200; 9.7%; twice, n = 114, 5.5%; multiple, n = 150, 7.2%). The odds of suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17 were significantly (p < .001) higher for respondents reporting childhood sexual abuse (OR = 5.0), physical abuse (OR = 4.9), emotional abuse (OR = 3.7), peer bullying (OR = 3.1), parental neglect (OR = 1.6), and maternal battering (OR = 2.15). All adversities but exposure to maternal battering accounted for unshared variance in suicide attempts prior to age 17. Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire exposure counts were associated with child and adolescent suicide attempts. Suicide risk did not appear to increment progressively by additional exposures after two co-occurring stressors. The odds of early suicide attempt(s) were markedly higher in this sample among respondents who were exposed to one or more forms of childhood adversity.

Mental health and substance use among sexual minority women who report childhood sexual abuse: A systematic literature review.

A growing body of literature provides evidence that sexual minority women (SMW; e.g., lesbian, bisexual) are at greater risk of negative mental health and substance use outcomes than are heterosexual women. While minority stress may partially explain these disparities, it does not fully account for them. Therefore, it is necessary to identify how other risk factors (i.e., childhood sexual abuse [CSA]) contribute to SMW's increased risk of negative mental health and substance use outcomes. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify and synthesize the state of knowledge about CSA and mental health and substance use outcomes among SMW. Two independent reviewers screened 347 articles identified in searches of five databases (Web of Science, PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed, and Embase). Eligible articles were peer-reviewed, reported quantitative or mixed methods results focused on mental health or substance use outcomes among adult SMW with a history of CSA. Twenty-four papers were included in the review. Findings clearly show that SMW report higher rates of CSA than heterosexual women. Findings also suggest that CSA may mediate the relationship between minority sexual identity and some negative outcomes. Future studies should include minority stress factors, a broader range of mental health outcomes (apart from substance use and suicide), and more nuanced measures of CSA. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Stereotypes and unconscious bias in institutional child sexual abuse: Barriers to identification, reporting and prevention

AbstractChild sexual abuse within institutional settings has been a major concern for governments around the world for many years. Consequently, prevention policies have been developed, and institutional child abuse laws have been strengthened in many jurisdictions. Legislation is important to prevent reoffending, however, the majority of childhood sexual abuse remains unreported and undetected. While awareness of the failings of institutions to properly identify and respond to child abuse has grown in recent years, barriers to reporting institutional abuse remain understudied, impacting the ability to prevent abuse. One possible reason that prevents workers from identifying and reporting child sexual abuse is that their judgements are vulnerable to stereotypes and unconscious biases about who perpetrates and is victimised by sexual crimes and what constitutes warning signs of sexually abusive behaviours. Research in psychology provides key insights into human reasoning processes that can lead to bias, so workers fail to identify, respond and prevent grooming and child abuse in an organisational context. This paper reviews what is known about the development and maintenance of stereotypes and unconscious bias, their role in institutional sexual abuse, and concludes with a discussion of measures that can be taken to mitigate unconscious bias to prevent child abuse.

Can I Leave the Past Behind? Associations between Childhood Abuse and Adult Psychopathology

Background: Research consistently shows that abuse during childhood is related to adult psychopathology. Information regarding childhood abuse is frequently collected from either previous documentation or from participants’ self-reports. Objective: In the current study, we combined information on reports of childhood abuse from several informants (patients, treating clinicians, and independent interviewer), as well as diagnostic assessments of adult patients based on independent interviewer assessments based on structured diagnostic interviews (SCID) and clinician judgments, to better examine the association between exposure to abuse during childhood and adult psychopathology. Participants and Setting: A convenience sample of patients in community mental health and hospital-based clinics (N = 170) and their clinicians (N = 80) participated in the study. Methods: Patients and clinicians completed the Clinical Data Form. Patients also completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Independent interviewer-assessed patients and completed the Familial Experiences Interview. Clinicians completed a diagnostic assessment of their patients based on clinical judgment. Independent interviewers completed the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID). Results: Reports of exposure to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse during childhood from all informants correlated with the treating clinician’s diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD; r range 0.23–0.37, p &lt; 0.05), but not with SCID diagnosis of BPD. Clinician and SCID diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) correlated with patient and interviewer reports of childhood sexual abuse (r range 0.23–0.30, p &lt; 0.05), but there were no correlations with treating clinician’s reports of sexual abuse. Conclusions: The association between BPD and childhood abuse is consistent across different ratings and measurements. The study raises questions of the ability of a structured interview to accurately capture BPD and highlights the connection between sexual abuse and PTSD, and the importance of treating clinicians’ examination of childhood sexual abuse among their patients.

Empowering Young People with Special Educational Needs to Recognize and Report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A Mixed-Methods Review.

Young people with special educational needs (SEN), such as intellectual disability and/or autism, are particularly vulnerable to child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). This mixed-methods systematic literature review consolidates findings in respect to how young people with SEN are currently being taught about CSEA in the UK, incorporating empirical and practice-based findings to counteract publication bias. Key databases were searched, and relevant organizations were contacted regarding studies published between 2015 and 2022 (inclusive). Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 10 adopted a qualitative methodology, and three a mixed-methods approach. The thematic synthesis of the qualitative studies identified the following themes: (a) beliefs and stereotypes about CSEA, vulnerability. and risk have led to young people with SEN being misinformed and misunderstood, and (b) anxiety about the topic of sex and abuse creates polarized views regarding CSEA education in adult guardians of young people with SEN. Themes are discussed in the context of societal biases in respect to vulnerability and risk, and these biases are considered to have a negative effect on how young people with SEN are supported. The findings of this review encourage providers of CSEA awareness education to be mindful of not endorsing harmful stereotypes, and to involve parent-carers as much as possible. This review additionally encourages services and organizations to increase focus on practitioner reflexivity and regular training to counteract potential biases in respect to gender, vulnerability, and risk.

The Impact of Training on Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: a Pilot Study

The Impact of Training on Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: a Pilot Study

Knowledge of child sexual abuse and attitudes towards reporting it among teachers and parents of children studying in selected primary schools of Udupi Taluk, India

BackgroundChild sexual abuse is one of the major issues of concern globally. Teachers and parents being the child’s primary caregivers should be knowledgeable regarding child sexual abuse.Aim of the studyThis study aimed to assess knowledge about child sexual abuse, determine attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse, and find the relationship between knowledge and the attitude among the teachers and parents of the children studying in selected primary schools of Udupi taluk.MethodsA descriptive survey design was adopted; the study participants were 90 teachers and 50 parents of the children studying in selected primary schools of Udupi Taluk. The instruments used were demographic proforma, a structured knowledge questionnaire about child sexual abuse, and an attitude scale toward reporting it.ResultsResults depicted that 50% of the teachers had average knowledge and 50% had good knowledge about child sexual abuse. All the teachers reported a favorable attitude towards reporting child sexual abuse. Similarly, 80% of the parents had average knowledge about child sexual abuse, and a majority of 76% had a favorable attitude towards reporting child sexual abuse. Unfavorable attitude towards reporting child sexual abuse was reported by 24% of the parents. No statistically significant correlation was found between knowledge and attitude toward reporting child sexual abuse among parents ((χ2 = 1.891, p = 0.388). A significant association was found between teachers’ knowledge scores, their previous knowledge about child sexual abuse (χ2 = 7.56, p = 0.006), and the existence of a school counselor (χ2 = 5.40, p = 0.020). Likewise, the association was found between parents’ knowledge score, educational level of parents (χ2 = 18.3, p = 0.019), and marital status (χ2 = 18.5, p = 0.005).ConclusionChild sexual abuse is one of the major issues of concern globally. Teachers and parents being the child’s primary caregivers should be knowledgeable regarding child sexual abuse. As parents are not exposed to any training regarding identifying and reporting child sexual abuse, they may have unfavorable attitudes toward reporting it.

Physical, sexual, and psychosocial health impacts of child abuse: Evidence from Ghana.

Child abuse is a significant global health problem. While data on child abuse in Ghana are scant, anecdotal evidence suggests the vast majority of Ghanaian children have experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse. This paper explores links between early childhood abuse and health outcomes using a life course perspective. Nationally representative cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 2289 ever-married Ghanaian women in 2017. Women provided retrospective accounts of different types of violence in early childhood. Random-effects logit models were used to examine the impact of two dimensions of early childhood abuse (physical and sexual) on the physical, sexual, and psychosocial health outcomes of women in later years. Women who experienced childhood physical abuse, but not often, were significantly more likely to report physical disabilities in later years than women who did not experience it. Women reporting childhood sexual abuse were more likely to be depressed in later years than those who never experienced such abuse. They were also significantly more likely to report sexually transmitted diseases. Our findings provide support for the life course theory by showing abuse experienced in childhood could have a long-term impact. We therefore suggest the need for early interventions to address child abuse.

A disproportionate burden: Prevalence of trauma and mental health difficulties among sexual minority versus heterosexual U.S. military veterans

This study examined sociodemographic, military, and trauma characteristics, and mental health concerns that differ by sexual orientation in a nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans. Data were analyzed from 4069 veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience Veterans Study (NHRVS). Compared with veterans who self-reported as heterosexual (n = 3,491, 94.7%), sexual minority veterans (n = 161, 5.3%) were more likely to be younger, women, Hispanic, unmarried/partnered, have lower household income, and to have enlisted in the military, and served for 4–9 years (relative to 3 or less or 10 or more). After adjusting for demographic variables, sexual minority veterans remained more likely to report childhood sexual abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 2.82), military sexual trauma (OR = 2.29), adverse childhood experiences (Cohen's d = 0.11), current and lifetime drug use disorder (ORs = 3.66 and 2.41, respectively), current alcohol use disorder (OR = 1.62), current and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; ORs = 2.03 and 1.55, respectively), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; OR = 3.19), and future suicide intent (OR = 2.65). Among sexual minority veterans, more years of military service was associated with greater odds of lifetime PTSD, and lower annual household income with greater odds of lifetime drug use disorder and NSSI. Consistent with research in non-veterans, results suggest that sexual minority veterans experience greater trauma and mental health burden relative to their heterosexual peers. They further underscore the importance of interventions that prevent and mitigate adverse mental health outcomes in this population.

Development and Evaluation of the Teacher Reporting Questionnaire for South African Foundation Phase Educators (TRQ-SA) in Measuring Teachers’ Intentions to Report Child Sexual Abuse Suspicions

ABSTRACT Globally teachers are mandated by law to report suspected child sexual abuse (CSA). The Teachers’ Reporting Questionnaire (TRQ) was constructed to assess teachers’ intentions to report CSA suspicions in Australia. The current research examines the development of the Teacher Reporting Questionnaire for South African foundation phase educators (TRQ-SA) and provides an evaluation of the TRQ-SA as a survey instrument for utilization in other studies. The TRQ-SA is a self-administered survey instrument used in a cross-sectional quantitative study that investigated teacher reporting intentions using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A stratified random sample of 399 teachers from the eight school districts in the Western Cape province of South Africa was achieved. Before the TRQ-SA was developed, a qualitative elicitation study was conducted. Once developed, the questionnaire was pre-tested before the quantitative central study survey was administered. Cronbach’s alpha was used to indicate reliability of scales, where a minimum α coefficient of .7 is considered acceptable. In the quantitative survey, the TRQ-SA had the following results: α = .74 was achieved for the attitude towards reporting scale, α = .78 for the subjective norm scale, α = .74 for the perceived behavioral control scale and α = .79 for the intention to report scale. The TRQ-SA achieved good internal consistency for all its TPB scales. The TRQ-SA is a valid and reliable survey instrument which could be used “as is” or amended in similar settings and countries testing the TPB in their own contexts.

HIV biomedical approaches among sexual minority men with childhood sexual abuse histories: A systematic review

AbstractMen who have sex with men (MSM) report childhood sexual abuse (CSA) at higher rates than heterosexual men. The literature has established a clear association between CSA and sexual risk taking. Biomedical HIV preventative approaches are effective tools for reducing HIV acquisition. Since many studies are conducted on MSM broadly, the objective of this review was to examine outcomes of studies on MSM with CSA histories and HIV biomedical approaches. The PRISMA checklist was used to extract data from the included studies. Of 124 studies retrieved, seven articles (n = 7) met the inclusion criteria. Studies included in the review were predominately correlational. Four themes were identified which were sexual behaviour, mental health, drug use/polydrug abuse and intimate partner violence. All identified variables impacted biomedical adherence either directly or indirectly. However, negative childhood experiences were not the dominant priority in the studies reviewed. In addition, there were confusion over how some variables were operationalized. This systematic review highlights the need for further research and intervention development based on past experiences and trauma, especially among MSM of colour. Approaches that incorporate past trauma should be the future focus of HIV prevention and management.

A macro-level understanding of levels and trends in the abuse and homicide of children, 1997–2020

BackgroundData suggest that U.S. rates of violence declined beginning in the 1990s. However, crime trend studies have not entirely agreed on reasons for the decline, and few have empirically assessed the decline in violence against children more specifically. ObjectiveThis study investigates several competing hypotheses for explaining declines in reported child physical abuse, sexual abuse, and homicide. Attention is given to the importance of these explanatory factors for explaining both rates (levels) and year-over-year differences (trends) in these child outcomes. Participants and settingPopulation-level state-panel data for the years 1997–2020 are used, totaling 1176 state-years. MethodsLinear panel-data models are used to examine the relationship between explanatory factors and levels and trends in rates of reported child abuse and child homicide. ResultsAs operationalized in this study, few of the hypotheses proposed for explaining declines in child victimization were associated with levels or trends in reported child abuse. The only explanatory factor significantly associated with lower rates of reported child physical abuse was the rate of alternative response. Year-over-year increases in lagged female incarceration rates were associated with year-over-year declines in rates of reported physical abuse. Several explanatory measures were associated with levels or trends in child homicide, while only methylphenidate distribution was associated with levels of reported child sexual abuse. ConclusionsPolicymakers should be aware of the importance of alternative response rates on rates of reported child physical abuse and recognize that macro-level declines in reported child victimization may only be possible if macro-level conditions are also addressed.

Profile of Alleged Accused in Sexual Offence Cases Examined in Kilpauk Medical College – Chennai- A Retrospective Study

Despite strict laws like POCSO (Protection of Children Against Sexual Offenses), the cases of sexual violenceagainst children are not declining in India, relatively it is snowballing year by year. Apart from metros, suchheinous crimes are being carried out in small towns as well. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reportfor the year 2020 states that 47,221 cases of child sexual abuse were registered in the country. Most of the victimsin these cases were girls. According to NCRB, the maximum happenings of sexual violence and sexual abusehappened with girls aged 16 to 18 years. Activists working in this field say that many times the cases do not reachthe police or the family overpowers them for fear of defamation. The POCSO Act was enacted years ago to protectchildren from sexual abuse. The question is, has the law been successful in rewarding its objective? According tothe 2016 to 2020 (NCRB) report, the number of reported child sexual abuse cases increased from 36,321 in 2016to over 47,000 in 2020. This is an increase of 31 percent. According to experts, this number is also just the tip ofthe iceberg. In the 2020 report of NCRB, it has been said that only 36 percent of the crimes against children areregistered under POCSO. The research paper examines the retrospective study of the alleged accused in sexualoffence cases examined in Kilpauk Medical College.

Child abuse prevention education policies increase reports of child sexual abuse

BackgroundIt is well supported that engaging in prevention education increases a child's awareness of child sexual abuse. However, due to methodological limitations, prior research has yet to determine whether this knowledge leads to increases in reporting or substantiation of child sexual abuse. ObjectiveWe examined whether state mandates for school-based prevention education correlate to changes in reports of child sexual abuse. MethodsWe used a quasi-experimental design to investigate the association between child sexual abuse report rates from 2005 to 2019 and presence of state legislation mandating school-based child sexual abuse prevention curricula. Child sexual abuse report data were obtained from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System child files. We focused on reports for school-aged children ages 5–17. Data on state laws on prevention curricula were extracted from enoughabuse.org, Prevent Child Abuse America, ErinsLaw.org, and directly from published legislation. ResultsState education mandates were associated with an increase in the incidence of child sexual abuse reports made by education personnel (IRR = 1.22, 95 % CI, 1.01–1.48). Policies were not associated with increases in incidence of child sexual abuse reports made by non-education personnel (IRR = 1.08, 95 % CI, 0.95–1.22) or decreases in likelihood that any given report was confirmed (OR = 1.00; 95 % CI, 0.90–1.12). ConclusionsThere is moderate evidence that adopting state mandates for child sexual abuse prevention education may increase disclosures and reporting of child sexual abuse by school-based sources. There is no evidence that mandates decrease the validity of child sexual abuse reporting by school-based sources.

A Vignettes-Based Exploration of Attitudes of Parents Toward Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana.

Reporting child sexual abuse (CSA) to law enforcement institutions is the ideal child protection imperative. The role of parents in this process is unquestionably profound. Yet, there is limited evidence on parental perspectives on reporting CSA to law enforcement agencies in developing country contexts. We apply vignettes to describe the views of parents about reporting CSA perpetrated by "family members, schoolteachers, and strangers." Data was collected from 89 parents from four culturally diverse regions of Ghana. A systematic inductive approach was used to determine patterns and similarities in participants' attitudes toward reporting. We note that the attitudes of participants about reporting CSA varied considerably; these are influenced by the nature of social relationships between the victim and perpetrator. In a seeming order of severity, CSA perpetrated by a family member was viewed less seriously compared to victimization by a teacher or a stranger. The desire to preserve familial/kin ties and reputation and keeping to the cultural heritage of resolving "disputes and disagreements" amicably were primary norms against reporting CSA. However, attitudes toward reporting CSA by teachers were influenced by expectation of higher moral standards, which made reporting CSA by a teacher a reasonable cause of action. Positive attitudes toward reporting CSA by "strangers" were prevalent. Child protection programs must recognzse the segmented attitudes toward CSA and tackle the deep-seated cultural and social norms through social and behavioral change communication (SBCC).

Analyzing the Portrayals of Child Sexual Abuse of Urdu Newspapers in Developing Countries

Child sexual abuse is serious in any developing country confronting children’s sexual exploitation. Certain factors are liable for fostering child sexual abuse, and the media can play a significant role in eradicating this issue. This research scrutinized the portrayals of child sexual abuse in three Urdu-Pakistani newspapers by analyzing the role of the newspapers concerning the burgeoning prevalence of child sexual abuse based on seven categories proposed by UNICEF. The data were generated in 2019 using a purposive sampling technique and analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that the newspapers analyzed followed different ethical guidelines in reporting child sexual abuse, indicating that news reports contained details of helplines for victims. Statistically, the study found a strong and significant relationship between child sexual abuse cases and newspapers’ reporting, recommending scrutinizing other aspects of child sexual abuse, especially pornography, to ensure a safer future for children in Pakistan.

Childhood sexual abuse and food addiction severity in a clinical sample of individuals with overweight or obesity.

A higher risk of food addiction (FA) in individuals reporting childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been well demonstrated with community samples, but studies including clinical samples failed to replicate this relation. This study examined, among individuals presenting eating and weight disorders, the risk of FA for those reporting CSA while considering the severity of CSA and other types of traumas. Participants (N = 187) completed a DSM-5 diagnosis assessment and questionnaires on LimeSurvey evaluating FA, interpersonal traumas, depressive level, body esteem, dieting/weight preoccupations, and body mass index (BMI). Logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of FA using interpersonal traumas as risk factors, and t tests were used to compare individuals with FA and CSA and those with FA without CSA. Of all interpersonal traumas, CSA was associated with the highest risk of FA, with ORs of 1.73 (p = 0.094) and 2.07 (p = 0.034). The relationship with the abuser, the type of sexual abuse and the number of abuses were significant or marginally significant risk factors, with ORs ranging from 1.26 to 1.50. Finally, no significant difference was found between FA with CSA and FA without CSA. Using a clinical sample, this study showed a higher risk of FA in individuals reporting CSA and provided evidence that the relationship with the abuser, the type of sexual abuse, and the number of abuses are relevant factors. Additionally, in individuals with FA, the presence or absence of CSA did not influence depressive level, body esteem, dieting/weight preoccupations, or BMI. Level V, cross-sectional, descriptive study.

More than just oral PrEP: exploring interest in rectal douche, dissolvable implant, removable implant and injection HIV prevention approaches among racially diverse men who have sex with men in the Northeast Corridor

ObjectivesHIV scholars and practitioners have worked to expand strategies for prevention among marginalised populations who are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic, such as racial minority men who have sex with...

Prevalence of Poor Mental Health Days and Adverse Childhood Experience Reporting in U.S. Adults Before and After COVID-19

This is the first study of US adults to examine change in the prevalence of psychological burden (i.e., self-reported poor mental health days in the past 30 days, and ACEs recollections) before compared to after COVID-19 started. We analyzed the prevalence of self-reported poor mental health days, and ACEs recollections from 17 states using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Adjusted models identified an increase in prevalence from before compared to after COVID-19 onset in those married or partnered reporting 48% more poor mental health days in the past 30 days; persons of color reporting living with anyone with mental illness during childhood by 73% and reporting more ACEs by 35%; those employed or self-employed reporting childhood sexual abuse by 45%. This ecological-level analysis revealed population-level changes in psychological well-being reporting of U.S. adults from before compared to after the pandemic onset.

"I'm Not a Child Molester, But a Victim Myself": Examining Rationalizations Among Male Sex Offenders Who Report Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Persons convicted of sexual offenses (PCSOs) hold distorted attitudes and beliefs, or rationalizations that minimize the severity of their offending. Despite this, knowledge of rationalizations held by PCSOs remains limited, especially for offenders who report being sexually abused as children. The purpose of the study was to qualitatively assess post-conviction rationalizations of PCSOs who reported childhood sexual abuse (n = 40) and those who reported no sexual abuse (n = 40) focusing on account variations-a framework proposed by Scott & Lyman. Offenders were interviewed and assessed for risk and community notification purposes in 2014 in a southern state. The manner in which PCSOs use rationalizations to avert responsibility for their offenses provides insight into their motivations for offending, and therefore, can inform treatment initiatives for PCSOs with and without histories of sexual victimization. Results can help inform differentiated treatment for those with histories of sexual abuse and those without.